Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-11
course

| NOuiDN
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THE San Francisco Chronicle OF last
"Wednesday printed the following
interview with the President, pub
lished in the New York World on the
same date:
The World will publish tomorrow
over the signature of Ballard Smith
the results of an interview with Presi-
dent Cleveland held at Oak View last
week. In this interview is set forth
to the extent of six columns Cleve-
lands views upon such topics of ma
tional interest and importance as his
denomination. civil service reform the
financial situation, the Wheeling in
cident and his coming visit to the
south and west. The President said ::
81 fully appreciate the valuable work
which the World has done in the re-
formation OF abuses in New York and
its efforts in many directions in be-
half of the people. No man in the
country can know the embarrassment
and perplexities which have sur
rounded me in attempting to amend
the condition of public affairs, but
guided by every light possible to be
made available, am trying to bring
about a remedy without the least per-
sonal ambition or interest. Notwith-
standing the natural aggravation
which have felt in noting his appar-
ent disposition Ggainst me personally,
| see the desire OF Mr.. Pulitzer,
through the World, to aid in the same
direction. But the fact is, am of ne
cessity the person now to bring this
reform about; and is there any better
way to secure the accomplishment OF
reform than by helping me to accom-
plish it, if he believes me honest in
my purposes
"Let me say here" Cleveland con-
tinued, THAT il disappointment, aris-
ing from my inability to name for
office all those recommended by near
personal or political friends were a
sufficient cause for alienation, those
who wish me well would be very few
to-day"
In subsequent conversation the
President said that the composition OF
the Pacific Railway Commission had
been a matter OF unusual thought and
consideration with him, and in view
OF the valuable information obtained
he was glad the question decided by
Justice Field against the Commission
had not been raised earlier. Their
dispatch recommending the employ
ment of additional counsel had been
answered Immediately and full power
given them. Why such counsel had
not been employed he had not been
informed, but he understood that a
reasonable adjournment to enable
them TO examine into the law had
been expected.
Concerning recent events in Grand
Army matters, Mr. Cleveland said
1.-The soldier, having laid down his
arms after making so many sacrifices
and enduring so many hardships,
having achieved such vast and good
work in perpetuating our Republic,
should be pre-eminently the best citi-
zen. When he again, in time OF
peace, resumes his citizenship, his
desire for the quiet of his country
and its prosperity entirely depends on
this, should be emphasized by the
very trials he has undergone. l don't
believe he can be carried away from
the even plane of that good citizen.
ship by the devices of the unscrupu.
lous, who would use him for partisan
purposes" Further, he said he had
no fear there would be any Overt
action at st. Louis in retaliation foi
the Wheeling incident, because it was
contrary to what he knew to be the
spirit of the municipal and CONNER,
cial bodies which had invited him
there, and which he believed to be
the spirit of the whole people of St
| Louis.
With the progress of Civil Service
Reform the President is very much
pleased. ''In the first year and a
half of my Administration" said the
President, "men came here by hun.
dreds, by the thousands, each COM
pany filling the room and emptying ii
only to make way for another throng,
and there was always the same
formula: 4 have come, Mr.. Presi.
dent, to ask that - be removed
""The reason p | would soy. why,
he is Republican, would be the uni
form answer This was repeated over
and over and over again in each sue,
cessive case with seemingly hopeless
iteration. | said always / could have
but the one answer: you must
bring me proof of his unitness as a
public officer l understand very
well their inability to comprehend
this. Knowing very well the process
which had obtained here for so many
years, | could but sympathize with
their inability to do so, but now the
formula is altogether changed. l have
not heard that expression for many
months past. 1t is now said at the
outset of every application for a
change: This man is unfit, faithless
public servant, and these are the rea-
sons Is not this a very great deal to
have accomplished? Is not this a suf-
ticient answer, for the time that has
intervened, to those who may COM
plain that more has not been accom-
| plished?
Csnceruing the question of his re-
nomination, Cleveland said: at
seems to be the universal belief that
a President must desire a renomina-
ton. | cannot understand how apv
man who has served one term as
President could have personal am